ARREARS OF RATES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1935, Page 6

ARREARS OF RATES

TOWN CLERK OWES £4BO. ALBURY (N.S.W.), October 30. As tha outcome of reports to the council .concerning accumulated arrears of rates, amounting to £25,780, the council held a special meeting in committee to-night regarding the financial position, and a report signed by the Mayor was subsequently handed to the Press. It was reported by the finance committee that the town clerk (Mr. A. R. Dore), who has been in the council j service nearly 30 years, was indebted to the amount of £4BO in rates, and that another employee, A. B. Phillips, over £BO. The report stated that the council solicitors repeatedly applied for a list of amounts owing by certain ratepayers, but that,'as these lists were not supplied, it was concluded that it was because the name of the town clerk would have been disclosed as a defaulter. The town clerk, it was reported by the commitee, had stated that prosecutions had not been made for non-pay-ment of rates and other charges, because instructions had not been recoiled. The deputy town clerk (Mr. Roy Collins’) had stated that he could not go over the head of his superior! officer and report the matter, but had urged tho auditors to mention the ar-| rears.

The finance committee reported that, although there was evidence of gross neglect by the clerk, there was definitely no suggestion of dishonesty. The committee subsequently recommended that the clerk should be dismissed, and that the matter of his arrears of rates should be placed in the hands of the council solicitors for recovery. It was reported that satisfactory arrangements had been made with Phillips for the payment, of his* arrears. •*